GHNS Illinois Budget (5/23/08)

Friday

May 23, 2008 at 12:01 AMMay 23, 2008 at 10:23 PM

GHNS Illinois Budget (5/23/08)

Here are the top Illinois stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at www.gatehousenewsservice.com. Please check www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/news in the evening for changes to story lineup, including breaking news.

If your paper has a story, digest item, opinion piece or standalone photo to share, please e-mail it to Illinois@gatehousemedia.com.

Another in our Money Squeeze series:
WHAT DIFFERS: How does this economic downturn compare to recessions of the past? It may not be the Great Depression, but whether it pinches like the early 1990s, punches like the double-digit inflation of the early 1980s or leaves us begging for gas like the 1970s remains to be seen, economists say.
TO LOCALIZE: Get folks in your town to compare what they’re feeling now to past downturns. By Lauren FitzPatrick/ GHNS national news reporter
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/homepage/x1902444782/Money-squeeze-This-downturn-feels-pretty-bad-but-how-does-it-compare-to-the-ones-of-the-past

TODAY’S SPOTLIGHT

Triplets face long road to recovery from rare disorder

ROCKFORD – After 16 weeks on bed rest, more than six of them spent living at Rockford Memorial Hospital, Kalie Kuhl got to go home Friday. Her identical triplet sons, born Tuesday, will spend at least six more weeks in the hospital. But the fact that they’re doing well is in itself a miracle. By Deborah Austin of the Rockford Register Star. Will be updated.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/archive/x1867430523/Triplets-face-long-road-to-recovery-from-rare-disorder

STATE BRIEFS: News from around the state. Will be posted this evening.

POLICE HONORED: East Peoria Police Detective Chad LaCost received the Illinois Law Enforcement Medal of Honor Friday for his actions during a five-hour police standoff last May with an armed Creve Coeur man. Illinois State Police Director Larry Trent and members of the Medal of Honor Committee handed out the medals to LaCost and more than two dozen other officers who displayed bravery and risked their lives. By Adriana Colindres of the State Capitol bureau. POSTED.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/archive/x215044015/Officers-honored-with-states-Medal-of-Honor

BUDGET: Continuing state budget brinksmanship in Legislature. (Senate expected to act on its version today.) By Doug Finke of the State Capitol bureau. Will be posted this evening.

YO-YO RIDES: Rides manufactured by company called Chance Rides are being shut down by Illinois in the wake of an accident at a county fair in California. By Meagan Sexton of the State Capitol bureau. HELD.

For the weekend:

Statehouse Insider column. By Doug Finke of the State Capitol bureau. POSTED
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/archive/x194404756/Doug-Finke-Are-legislators-sincere-Well-find-out-in-a-week

Capitol Notebook column. By the State Capitol bureau. POSTED
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/archive/x1191428224/Capitol-Notebook-Dont-be-fooled-by-budget-plans

BOAT GAS: The boating season unofficially kicks off this weekend, but what effect will there be from the high price of gas? One boater says his annual trip down to Florida would cost him at least $5,000 in gas. He's not going. Other boat owners say they will sit on the dock or anchor a lot more. By Ed McMenamin of the Peoria Journal Star. Will be posted this evening.

NO MOW: IDOT workers, angry about the cash-strapped agency's refusal to mow near Camp Butler prior to Memorial Day, did it themselves Friday morning with their own equipment and on their own time. By Chris Dettro of the State Journal-Register. Will be posted this evening.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/archive/x2118745933/No-mow-money-IDOT-workers-take-on-pre-Memorial-Day-duty

WANKE SENTENCING: The suspect in the death of a Rockford attorney, who has yet to be charged with that crime, had his sentencing in an old burglary conviction delayed again. By Corina Curry of the Rockford Register Star. Will be posted this evening.

ILLINOIS BUSINESS
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois_business

GAS PRICES VS. HOMES: Capital Area Association of Realtors president Phil Chiles has a simple formula to explain the continuing slowdown in Springfield-area homes sales - $4-a-gallon gasoline. By Tim Landis of the State Journal-Register. Will be posted this evening.

ZAMMUTOS: Zammuto's granita stand in Rockford was in danger of closing this year after more than 80 years in business. But new owners have stepped in to carry on the tradition of the delicious frozen Italian dessert. By Melissa Westphal of the Rockford Register Star. Will be posted this evening.

ETHANOL UPDATE: The Stillman Valley ethanol plant looks dead – there’s been no activity on the project since its announcement in late 2006. Village president doesn’t think it will happen and market forces back him up. Will try to get developer to definitive answer. After an explosion of proposed projects in 2006, ethanol looks like its in trouble across the Rock River Valley. By Nate Legue of the Rockford Register Star. Will be posted this evening.

BRITT: Toon on Sen. John McCain and the GI bill. Will be posted this evening.

WOOD ON WORDS: The many uses of “square.” Will be posted this evening.

Phil Luciano: An unwanted souvenir from Africa

I wanted to bring back a souvenir from Africa. But I hadn't planned on bringing one back in my gastrointestinal tract.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/archive/x360359681/Phil-Luciano-An-unwanted-souvenir-from-Africa

Editorial: Skies getting less friendly all the time

We understand things are tough, but American Airlines’ latest move to combat high fuel prices seems more like consumer torture than a smart business move. An editorial from the State Journal-Register.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/archive/x1875001193/Editorial-Skies-getting-less-friendly-all-the-time

Jeff Vrabel: How to get rid of those pesky teens

If you ever find yourself confused and annoyed by teens, which you probably do if you've ever attended a movie, boy, are you gonna want to treat me to a piping hot Cracker Barrel dinner for this one.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/lifestyle/columnists/x1902445684/Jeff-Vrabel-How-to-get-rid-of-those-pesky-teens

ILLINOIS FEATURES
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois_lifestyle

Manual mowers make a comeback

PEORIA – Garth Madison can mow his yard at the crack of dawn if he so chooses — bird song in the background instead of neighbors’ chirping complaints. This seeming miracle of modern science is actually thanks to an old-fashioned contraption: the reel mower. By Jennifer Davis of the Peoria Journal Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois_lifestyle/x101656678/Manual-mowers-make-a-comeback

Advances in brain imaging allow for new treatment methods

PEORIA – Recent advances in brain imaging are helping scientists (and, subsequently, local counselors) develop a new paradigm for how the brain functions. By Jennifer Davis of the Peoria Journal Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois_lifestyle/x1867430496/Advances-in-brain-imaging-allow-for-new-treatment-methods

INDIANAPOLIS 500: Jane Miller of the Peoria Journal Star will be covering the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. Stories will be posted Sunday evening.

QUICK SHOTS: White Sox now the team to beat in the unexpectedly weak AL Central. … Bulls can't go wrong, but Michael Beasley would be a safer No. 1 pick than Derrick Rose. As good as Rose is, no one thought he was better than Beasley until Memphis' NCAA Tournament run. It's risky to put too much emphasis on just a couple of games. On the other hand, that's what Utah did with Deron Williams, and that's worked out fine. … Cubs look like the best team in the NL Central. … Can Danica Patrick save the Indy 500? By Matt Trowbridge of the Rockford Register Star. Will be posted this evening for use in Sunday editions.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/sports/x360359848/Matt-Trowbridge-White-Sox-Cubs-World-Series-It-could-happen

Patrick: 'Roscoe will always be home for me'

Danica Patrick’s heart remains in Roscoe, but she only makes brief pit stops there during her busy IRL racing schedule. “Roscoe will always be home for me,” said Patrick, who lives with her husband in Phoenix. By Doug Goodman of the Rockford Register Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/sports/racing/x934431013/Patrick-Roscoe-will-always-be-home-for-me

Jeff Lampe: Thrill of the catch proves secondary

When it comes to fishing with kids, almost anyplace is a great place.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/sports/x360359135/Thrill-of-the-catch-proves-secondary

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